IP Library Granted Patent US 9,103,190
Granted Patent B2
US 9,103,190 · App. 13/471,279 · Granted Aug 11, 2015

Inert gas supply equipment for oil and gas well operations

Inventors: Timothy O'Rourke (Calgary, CA); Ronald Dant (Duncan, OK)
Assignee: GasFrac Energy Services Inc.
E21B43/00E21B43/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,103,190
App. No.
13/471,279
Granted
Aug 11, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for the supply of inert gas at a well site, the apparatus comprising one or more pressure vessels containing liquefied inert gas, a heat exchanger, one or more units of fracturing equipment connected to a manifold, a submersible pump in each of the one or more pressure vessels, each submersible pump being connected to supply liquefied inert gas to a supply line that passes through the heat exchanger and the supply line being connected to supply inert gas vaporized by the heat exchanger to the manifold.

Claims (29)

1. An apparatus for the supply of inert gas at a well site, the apparatus comprising:

one or more pressure vessels containing liquefied inert gas;

a heat exchanger;

one or more units of fracturing equipment connected to a manifold;

a submersible pump in each of the one or more pressure vessels, each submersible pump being connected to supply liquefied inert gas to a supply line that passes through the heat exchanger;

at least a heater on the supply line after the heat exchanger;

the heat exchanger comprising a chamber with a fan for blowing ambient air across the supply line;

the manifold being connected to the one or more units of fracturing equipment through proportional valves; and

the supply line being connected to supply inert gas vaporized by the heat exchanger to the manifold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the at least a heater comprises an electric heater.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the at least a heater comprises plural electric heaters.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which there are at least two pressure vessels.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the fracturing equipment comprises LPG fracturing equipment.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the LPG fracturing equipment comprises one or more blenders and one or more bulkers.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the inert gas is nitrogen or argon.

8. An apparatus for the supply of inert gas at a well site, the apparatus comprising:

one or more pressure vessels containing liquefied inert gas;

a heat exchanger;

one or more units of fracturing equipment connected to a manifold;

a submersible pump in each of the one or more pressure vessels, each submersible pump being connected to supply liquefied inert gas to a supply line that passes through the heat exchanger;

at least a heater on the supply line after the heat exchanger; and

the supply line being connected to supply inert gas vaporized by the heat exchanger to the manifold.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which there are at least two pressure vessels.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the fracturing equipment comprises LPG fracturing equipment.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which the LPG fracturing equipment comprises one or more blenders and one or more bulkers.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the inert gas is nitrogen or argon.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the at least a heater comprises an electric heater.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the at least a heater comprises plural electric heaters.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the manifold is connected to the one or more units of fracturing equipment through proportional valves.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2015
From: GASFRAC ENERGY SERVICES LTD.
To: STEP ENERGY SERVICES LTD.
Reel/Frame 036097/0290 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: GASFRAC ENERGY SERVICES INC.
To: PNC BANK CANADA BRANCH
Reel/Frame 033395/0370 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2012
From: O'ROURKE, TIMOTHY; DANT, RONALD
To: GASFRAC ENERGY SERVICES INC.
Reel/Frame 028855/0653 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130299159A1 · Nov 14, 2013